Sighting attachment for golf club

ABSTRACT

A sighting attachment for a golf club comprises an elongate strip attached to a golf club head in one embodiment and to a golf coub shaft in a second embodiment to define a line-of-sight between a golf ball and a cup to which the ball is aimed by a golfer with a view from above of the strip and ball.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to providing improved accuracy in directing a golf ball in putting or in driving the ball to a target cup.

It is common practice for a golfer to view or sight from behind a ball toward a target cup in an effort to determine a line-of-sight to the cup, which method is not particularly accurate in the addressing of a ball along a line-of-sight.

The present invention provides a sighting attachment for a golf club head for putting or a club shaft, depending on whether putting or driving is involved.

A golfer is enabled to view with accuracy from above the sighting attachment or elongate strip in relation to a golf ball thereunder, typically with portions of the ball extending beyond side edges of the strip, with a line-of-sight defined by an edge of the strip.

For driving the ball, the elongate strip according to the invention is attached by a magnet or a clip arrangement about six inches above the driver club head, with the golfer viewing from above and with the elongate strip disposed above the ball to determine a line of sight as indicated by an edge of the strip. For striking the ball with a driver club head the strip is positioned about six inches above the head.

The elongate strip is attachable for putting to the golf club putter head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a golfer with a golf club attachment of the invention on a club with a golfer viewing the attachment from above;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention attached to a golf club head with a golf ball disposed beneath the attachment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device of the invention in relation to a golf club head and golf ball;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sighting attachment of the invention mounted on a club head;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the attachment of FIGS. 3 and 4 showing weaving in a backstroke; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing a golfer in relation to a second embodiment of the invention wherein an elongate strip of the invention is attached on the shaft of a golf driver club.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment 10 of the invention in a golf club putter embodiment. The putter shown is a well-known type wherein a shaft intersects a head and wherein the rear side of the club head is generally parallel with the front side.

The putter comprises a shaft 12 secured to a putter head 14 having a flat planar surface 16 to address a ball 18.

The attachment device 10 according to the invention is preferably fabricated of a light metal, such as tin, zinc, aluminum or a suitable alloy. It may also be formed of an appropriate plastic, provided such plastic does not become distorted in service.

The attachment 10 is disposed to overlie and be centered on a golf ball therebelow with portions of the ball extending substantially equally beyond opposite edges of the attachment, as viewed from above, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Each of the side edges of the attachment 10 defines a line-of-sight for the direction of travel of a golf ball when stroked with club head 14, this direction being normal to the striking face of the club.

The device of the invention is quickly and conveniently attached and removable. It is preferably attachable by magnetic means 20, as shown in FIG. 3. It may also be attached by one or more threaded fasteners (not shown), adhesive or Velcro fastener.

The device is ordinarily removed for use of the golf club in an official play or contest.

It is well known that it is quite difficult to putt a golf ball with directional accuracy toward a cup to which it is addressed. In addressing the ball, a golfer attempts to swing a putter in a direction of line-of-sight to the cup. Typically, a golfer has stood behind the ball prior to putting in an endeavor to establish a line-of-sight from the ball to a cup to which it is desired that the ball travel.

It is well known that any slight variation or inaccuracy can readily result in undesired direction of ball travel.

A golfer is thus able to observe the ball portions extending on either side of the strip, and establish a line-of-sight toward a cup, according to an edge of the strip.

Utilizing the device of the present invention, the elongate strip 10 is attached to a golf club head to define a line-of-sight between the golf ball beneath the attachment and a cup to which the golf ball is to be directed. A line-of-sight is defined for the golfer by an edge of the strip as viewed from above the ball. During a backstroke, the golfer is thus provided with visual indication and guidance by viewing from above a line-of-sight provided by an edge of the elongate strip. Such visual indication or guidance makes clear to the golfer whether he has effected a line-of-sight path toward a cup or has displayed a wavering or zig-zag pattern.

The strip 10 may be sufficiently wide as shown according to golfers who have utilized the device, although it can be much narrower as shown in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein a guide strip 22, generally similar to that above described relative to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6, is attached to a golf club shaft preferably about 6″ above the club head 24. With the elongate member 22 extending over the golf ball, as shown in FIG. 7, the golfer is able to observe from above ball portions extending on either side of the strip 22, as viewed, and enables the establishment of a line-of-sight from the golf ball to a cup to which a golfer's stroke will be directed.

The strip 22 is secured to the golf club shaft by a clip 26 at the end of strip 22, or may be attached by appropriate wire or other means (not shown).

It has been found in practice that quite competent golfers with only a relatively few minutes of practice utilizing the device of the present invention, improve the accuracy of their golf strokes, and benefit with respect to the feel or control experience.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodimentd discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A sighting attachment for a golf club comprising: an elongate strip attachable to a golf club head which generates a line between a golf ball and the attachment, said strip enabling a golfer to more accurately direct the golf ball according to the line as viewed by the golfer from above the strip and ball, as shown in FIG. 6, and said sighting attachment comprising an elongate strip which extends over the golf ball at a length great enough to sustain the line throughout the backstroke as shown in FIG. 6, whereby a line-of-sight is defined for the golfer by an edge of the strip as viewed from above the ball.
 2. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the golf ball extends laterally outwardly of the strip.
 3. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the golf ball extends laterally from both edges of the elongate strip.
 4. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein golf ball portions extend outwardly from each side edge of the strip, as viewed from above.
 5. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein said sighting attachment is irremovably attached by a magnet.
 6. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein said club head is a putter head.
 7. A sighting attachment according to claim 1 wherein said club is a driver head.
 8. A sighting attachment for a golf club comprising: an elongate strip attachable to a golf club shaft which generates a line between a golf ball and the attachment, said strip enabling a golfer to more accurately direct the golf ball according to said line as viewed by the golfer from above the strip and ball, and said sighting attachment comprising an elongate strip attached to and extending outwardly from the golf club shaft and over the golf ball at a length great enough to sustain the line throughout the backstroke as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, whereby a line-of-sight is defined for the golfer by an edge of the strip as viewed from above the ball.
 9. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein said attachment is attached to the shaft by a magnet.
 10. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein a portion of the golf ball extends laterally outwardly of the strip as viewed from above by the golfer.
 11. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein a golf ball portion extends outwardly from each side edge of said strip as viewed by a golfer from above.
 12. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein said line-of-sight/line is substantially perpendicular to a golf club head striking surface.
 13. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein the attachment comprises a strip having two opposite edges each defining a line-of-sight toward a cup to which the ball is addressed a line between a golf ball and said attachment as viewed by a golfer from above.
 14. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein the golf club head is a putter.
 15. A sighting attachment according to claim 8 wherein the golf club head is a driver. 